Justin Rose says he would happily trade a late tee time for the chance to watch England chase World Cup glory this week, as the Open Championship and the nation’s run to the World Cup semi-finals collide head-on at Royal Birkdale.
According to a fresh update from Front Office Sports, Rose used Tuesday’s press conference to admit the timing is impossible to ignore, with England facing Argentina in Wednesday’s semi-final just as the 154th Open gets under way in Southport. “We’ve got big things as well to do this week,” Rose said, “but it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.” Rose tees off at 9:36am Thursday alongside Russell Henley and Viktor Hovland.
Tommy Fleetwood And Matt Fitzpatrick Share In The World Cup Buzz
Rose is not alone in following the football. Fitzpatrick admitted he has “had 20 quid on England to win the World Cup,” something he does “every World Cup and Euros,” while Fleetwood said watching the Three Lions has been “great,” adding the players “carry a nation on their shoulders a lot more than we do.” Both are among the favourites in this year’s Open field, and Rose, speaking to BBC Sport, called the idea of an England win and his own Claret Jug triumph landing on the same day “a lovely double.”
The R&A is already planning for a scheduling clash if England reach Sunday’s final, which kicks off at 8pm UK time. “We’ll ensure we try and avoid that clash wherever possible,” R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said. For now, focus stays on Thursday, when Rose begins his latest bid for the one major that has eluded him — a chase that continues alongside Fleetwood’s own home dream at Birkdale.
